rawhide1

Welcome this is a great place with good people willing to answer questions when possible. I can't wait to see your work! Mike

I've used Wicket and Craig it was nice leather. I don't know why it's not the real stuff? Can someone please explain. Thanks, Mike

If your handling the strings a lot they will also turn darker. Just from the oil from your hands. I don't use soap or butter when braiding roo as I don't feel it's needed. I have put clear lac or a spray on finish on the hair side in the past on some strings I was using for knots. If I was worried about the color change. Mike

Hell I think it turned out nice!! Mike

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If the rivet is going to be against something (clothes, animal,ect.) I'll put the flat side against the object. So it doesn't rub on it. The burr should face which ever direction so it doesn't rub on person or object. To peen the rivet I cut the stud off a little above the washer after I set it and take a hammer and wack the stud a couple of times to flatten it out. I'll then take the doming tool and dome it. There's another tool(dont know the name) that's round and slightly concave and should be used to hit the flat head of the rivet with after doming the stud. It makes the head of the rivet convex. And therefore leaving a nice smooth surface. Mike

Go light on the neat lac to start with. Or your paint wont be on your leather for long!!! It seems no matter how careful I am or how light a coat of neat lac I try and put on intialy I still lose paint or have it streak. I started using the spray on stuff from Tandy's for anything I have paint on. Mike

Nice looking leash. The braiding and knots all look nice and tight and straight. I know ya didn't ask for a critique. So disregard if this annoys ya as it's just personal preference. I think the leash would of flowed better if the pineapple knots were slightly smaller in dia. and tapered down going into the body of the leash. I think it would also be nice to add a burner under the snap. As it would be a shame to have the snap wear through such a nice leash. Once again it's not my intention to offend. Thanks for sharing Mike

ya got to have a tax # Mike

Nice work ! You've come a long ways. Mike

I like to use the flat needles when I use roo. I like to take and break one of the tabs off and then use some glue to hold the roo on the remaining tab. It works like a champ. When I'm using rawhide I just use a fid as the rawhide is stiff enough on it's own. Mike

Mr. Siegel I see alot of advice being given and I don't recall ya asking for it. The only advice I can give is I wouldn't sell a damn thing to some of these whining crybabies. I don't care how much money they have or don't have. I don't have a dog in this fight but I'm damned tired of everyone jumping on this fella. If ya don't want to buy from him then don't. If he wants to sell to only big company's who cares. So to whoever this pisses off I don't care. Start your nasty replies. I think the suppliers ought to start posting bad dealing they have had with people( by name) and then we'll really see the crap hit the fan. Mike Southern

Mr. Siegel While I have not ordered from you in the past I will in the future if the need arises. And I will let my own personal experience with your company be the deciding factor if I'm a repeat customer. I know when I read these post that I'm probably not getting all the facts. As it's humane nature to skew the facts in ones favor. I also feel if a member wants to state their experience good or bad they should. But folks need to keep a open mind while reading them. While it is certainly your right to advertise as you see fit I wish you would reconsider. Mike

Mike I use a drawgauge to cut a strip about 3/4" wide. I then split it to the thickness I need for the project at hand. For some reason I haven't found the need to stretch any of my strips. I don't know if I get the stretch out during the initial cut or while splitting. Or I may not be getting any stretch out and just don't know it. Mike

Ed Very nice maul. I always enjoy looking at your work. Mike

Thanks for the good laugh!! And also for expressing my own thoughts in such a elegant way. Mike

Ray I'd rather pick up pop cans than work for the likes of them. Those are the kind of people that want to dicker on price and get a helluva of a deal. But their the first to stick it to someone. As far as I'm concerned they can go pound sound. I think ya made the right decision. Mike

Chris PM sent. Also I forgot to ask what ya have left to sell. Thanks, Mike

Steve If you get any in the 15oz. or better give me a holler. I would also take any rawhide made from the beloved horse. Mike

Ryan For what it's worth I always buy sides. Because it's way cheaper and I can cut what ever I want out of it. Wether it be a belt blank or a set of reins. I cut all my strap goods by hand with a old osborne drawgauge. You can pick a good one up off of ebay for between 50 to 100 bucks and sometimes cheaper. I would get one that has the hardwood handles and stay away from the all metal ones. As far as time I can cut a side up for 5/8" reins in a matter of minutes. And a fella can find all kinds of uses for the left over belly and such. Right or wrong that's how I go about doing it. Good Luck, Mike

Very nice work !! Mike

leatherpounder Nice looking work.